Addressing Radon Risk Reduction in Schools
Did you know that exposure to elevated levels of radon could be affecting the health of students and school staff in your community ?
Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer and can be found in homes , schools , and buildings across the country . The U . S . Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) recommends that all homes and schools be tested for radon . At least one out of every 15 homes in the United States have an elevated radon level . 1 However , schools are likely to be the second largest source of radon exposure for staff and students since they spend around eight hours inside school buildings five days a week for most of the year .
According to the EPA , a nationwide survey estimates one in five schools has at least one schoolroom with a short-term radon level above the action level of 4 pCi / L ( picocuries per liter of air ). The EPA estimates that more than 70,000 schoolrooms in use today have high short-term radon levels . 2
The good news is that there are ways to reduce the risk of radon exposure among staff and students through radon testing and mitigation . Several states have implemented a protocol for radon testing in schools with remarkable success . School officials can easily test buildings for radon or have them professionally tested . If buildings test high for radon , school officials can reduce radon levels by having a mitigation system installed . There are resources that may be available through the American Rescue Plan and other federal funding to help with testing and mitigation costs .
Why Schools Should be Concerned About Radon
According to the Environmental Law Institute , over fifty-five million children and six million adults across the U . S . spend their days in K-12 schools . To give children the best chance for educational success , these school facilities need to be free of environmental problems that impact health and impede learning . Poor environmental conditions can prevent academic progress by making it harder for students to concentrate , causing or exacerbating illness Over 55 million children in students and staff , increasing absences and lost workdays , and diverting and 6 million adults school funds to pay for costly repair and remediation projects . Attention across the U . S . spend their to environmental quality is important not only for promoting wellness and days in K-12 schools . advancing the core educational mission , but also for preserving the financial health of school systems . 7 It ’ s crucial to remember when addressing environmental conditions in schools to not forget about the potential impact of elevated radon levels .
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